The Delhi-based retired school teacher, Neera Kolhi comes up with an innovative concept, “The New Me”, a resource to empower personal growth, specifically aimed to be a part of the school curriculum, facilitating an approach and outlook to life, right from the early days.”

Neera Kohli, the innovative educationist

“What we need is life skills, in tandem with education in order to meet the burgeoning demands of everyday life. Besides that we also need to develop cognitive abilities and psycho-social capacities to manage physical and emotional well being to imbibe an attitude and to further build on knowledge,” Kohli says, the Vasant Vihar, the Delhi-based Educationist.

Neera Kohli: Imparting life skills to children through the concept of “The New Me”

So, the new concept of The New Me concept is all about. The New Me is a program, which is conceptualised with the objective of removing the barriers that stand in the way of the expression of individual personality. What is more, the programme is used to build a host of measures such as self esteem, emotional maturity, general well being, attitude and behavioural changes.”

How it works? “This is also the learning the lessons of life by adopting a structured programme that employs participatory and experiential techniques. The intent, therefore is to focus on real skill development, says Kohli.

Neera Kohli: Educating the parents about the need to impart life skills to children through the concept of “The New Me”

An innovative and forward thinking senior educationist and administrator with well over three decades of experience in pedagogy and demonstrated expertise in developing strategies to drive academic improvement at all levels of educational development, Neera Kohli, as a communicator, has effectively worked with people at all organisational levels in support of the long-term directives. She is also experienced in creating a stimulating and challenging learning environment, conducive to the highest level of achievement.

Neera Kohli: Imparting life skills to children through the concept of “The New Me”

Based on her academic and administrative experience, Neera Kohil has conceptualised The New Me, a personality development programme aimed at school children, which through Modules and workshops, drives growth, development and innovation. As a resource to empower personal growth, The New Me is a programme, specifically aimed to be part of school curriculum, facilitating an approach and outlook to life, right from the formative years.

Neera Kohli: Imparting life skills to children through the concept of “The New Me”

In a free-wheeling chat, Neera Kohlianswers a volley of questions, in an exclusive interview with The Indian.News Editor, Jayashankar Menon.

TIN: As an academic, how did you embark on this program called The New Me?

NK: No discussion on Education in the present century can be complete without a reference to the ‘Totality’ of the personality of a child. To create tomorrow’s society, we need to produce healthy citizens, who can adapt themselves to the contemporary world. Each industrial nation has to learn the mechanisms of ‘how to learn’ and enable processes and systems to acquire a better understanding of culture, society and the world. The influence of human personality upon the functional efficiency of a nation has been widely recognised. The personality can also be modified to a certain extent by knowing the principle of “LEARNING TO BE”. As a forward-thinking Senior Educator and Administrator with over 33 years of experience in teaching and developing strategies to drive educational development, once I retired, based on my academic and administrative experience, I conceptualised ‘The New Me’ as a resource to Empower Personal growth, specifically aimed to be a part of school curriculum, facilitating an approach and outlook to life, right from the early years.

TIN: What is the impact of your workshops for both students as well as the teachers?

NK: You have got to make your own personality no matter how tall your grandfather is. Empowerment is the key to success and therefore, the programme aims to empower both students and teachers.

TIN: What is the word of advice you can give to our teachers in terms of thinking out of the box and mould the children in a positive way?

NK: For teachers, they must consistently innovate on learning, class room techniques, behaviour management and imbibe a focus on life skills, no matter what subject they specialise in. I do .. I learn .. being a newer me … giving my best .. for the students in my class. There will not be a next year..

TIN: What is it that you can advice the children to emulate?

NK: The New Me is conceptualised with the objective of removing the barriers that stand in the way of the expression of individual personality. By adopting a structured programme that employs participatory and experiential techniques, the intent is to focus on real skill development. The modules of our programmes are intended to make people to ‘look inwards to grow outwards’. This helps to develop certain potentials that we are sometimes not even aware of. Developing communication skills, management of time, planning.. vision are just a few peep ins .. for a Better Me leading to The New me.

TIN: As you had conducted around 20 workshops, what is your plans of extending your successful approach down south?

NK: We are happy to work pan-India; with each step, with each young mind that we can mind, we hope to spread the power of The New Me. In order to create tomorrow’s society, we need to produce healthy citizens, who can adapt themselves to the contemporary world. The influence of human personality upon the functional efficiency of a nation has been widely recognised. The
personality can also be modified to a certain extent by knowing the principle of “Learning to Be.”

Dr. Sandhya E, Associate Professor of Statistics at Prajyoti Niketan College in Pudukkad in Trissur district of Kerala and Malayalam writer. Photo: Color House, Trissur.

Eminent writer, poet, Statistics Scientist and Mohiniyattam dancer, Dr Sandhya E from Trishoor has bagged the Thammanam Vinodhaya 18th Lenin Irani Memorial Special Award for her poem, “Anthoniyum Ammayum.” Other awardees in this category includes Byju CP from Malappuram and Sabeena M Sali from Dubai. At an cultural seminar to be held on December 28, 2018 at 6.00 PM in Thammanam Vinodhaya, Justice Kamal Pasha will distribute the award to the winners. Meanwhile, the 18th Lenin Irani Memorial Poetry Writing Award went to Muraleedharan Punnakodefor his work, “Parolilirangiya Mazhathullikal.” The award constitutes of cash prize of Rs.3,333, a plaque and certificate of merit. The Indian.News congratulates, Dr Sandhya E and all the winners.

Renowned writer, teacher and passionate aboutMohiniyattamdance form, Dr. Sandhya E loves to wear too many hats, with least fuss. Although, she has written quite a number of books, her recent one being the collection of Malayalam poems, 4D. “If in Malayalam poet late Vayalar Rama Varma’s poem, Sandhya (Twilight) the poet had tried to put a sinthur on the parting day with one hand and with the other hand holding close the approaching night. But this Sandhya (pun intended, name of the poet and also mean Twilight) has apparently holding close to her both the day (story) and night (poem). Without the knowledge of twilight, the day and night interlace. This Sandhya is standing with an eerie silence between them. Precisely for that reason, how can this book not be dear to us”, writes author Ashtamoorthy, in his foreword of Dr. Sandhya’s collection of short stories titled: 4D, which is published by Green Books, Trissur.

Dr. Sandhya E bags many accolades for poems and short stories.

But before we know more about her literary and other pursuits, let us get to know her academics, which is astounding, to say the least. Dr. Sandhya E is Associate Professor of Statistics atPrajyoti Niketan College in Pudukkad in Trissur district of Kerala. Teacher, Professor or Scientist, all these and more befits this multifaceted genius.

Dr. Sandhya E is involved with three decades of research and 27 years of teaching. A first rank holder in her B.Sc. (Statistics) graduation, from Sree Kerala Varma College in Trissur, she also achieved third rank in M.Sc. (Statistics) from the Department of Statistics, University of Kerala. Subsequently, Dr. Sandhya pursued her M.Phil. also in statistics and secured A Grade. After she also accomplished NET/JRF from CSIR, Ph.D. (Statistics) from the Department of Statistics, University of Kerala and Research Associate-ship from CSIR at CUSAT. Feeling surprised about her academic achievements? Hold on! You will get flabbergasted, if you get to know more about this mild mannered, low profiled and soft spoken woman of substance. With her ego-less mannerisms and cheerful disposition, Dr. Sandhya E will create an enigma, if you hear her speak and the openness she displays with child like innocence and a motherly approach, something she might have imbibed close to three decades of teaching.

Dr. Sandhya’s academic recognition is even more mind-blowing. Involving in core research in a subject like Statistics has no correlation whatsoever with literature, leave alone performing arts and music. We have seen literary luminaries, but they remain in their own sphere. Pursuing Literature as a vocational study is common thing for budding writers and students with literary bend of mind. But, Statistics Research and Poetry or for that matter Mohiniyattam and Statistics! Do you think these kinds of varied passions can go hand in hand? Dr. Sandhya has proven that nothing is impossible. Coming back to the accolades she had received, Dr. Sandhya is the recipient of President’s Guide Award in 1979, Young Scientist Award conferred by Indian Science Congress Association in 1990, Prof MM Ghani Award for the best college teacher under the University of Calicut in 2011, Prof TSK Moothathu Best Paper Award in 2011, Prof Sivaprasad Foundation Award for Best College Teacher in Kerala in 2016; Sri Kerala Varma Puraskaram 2016 for outstanding Alumnus of the college and King Abdulaziz University Award for Scientific Publication in ISI cited journals (King Abdulaziz University is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia).

Dr. Sandhya E, Associate Professor of Statistics at Prajyoti Niketan College in Pudukkad in Trissur district of Kerala and Malayalam writer.

Beyond all these accolades, Dr. E Sandhya’s research activities even more impressive. She is a recognised guide of the University of Calicut and Mahatma Gandhi University. What is more, four students were awarded with PhD under her able guidance and currently two more students are pursuing their doctorate degrees under her tutelage. And that is not all. A whopping 50 research publications in various international and national journals have been published under her name including nine in conference proceedings. Sandhya has also presented 30 papers in various global as well as national conferences and seminars. She has iven 35 invited talks or extension lectures at various institutes in Kerala and other states including the lectures as a resource person in Refresher Courses.

Dr. Sandhya E is also aReviewer to Mathematical Reviews of American Mathematical Society, in the US and a Referee to the Journal of the Indian Statistical Association in Pune;Statistical Papers, Dortmund in Germany; Applied Mathematical Letters in the US and Indian Journal of Paediatrics. That gives the wholesome picture of Dr. Sandhya, the scholar. Now let us get back to her literary and other pursuits.

Sandhya publishes poems and short stories in leading Malayalam periodicals such as Bhashaposhini, Mathrubhoomi, Madhyamam, Kalakoumudi, Keralakoumudi, Malayalam, Samayam, Akam, Janasakthi, just to name a few. Also, Sandhya has published many compilations of her literary works such as Patikal Kayarunna Penkutti (girl who climbs the steps) – a collection of her short stories, published by H&C Publishers Trissur in 2010, Perillavandiyil, (In an unnamed Vehicle) a collection of her poems, published by DC Books Kottayam in October 2015 and her collection of short stories by Green Books of Trissur called 4D in 2015. In addition to that, she has published another collection of poems, Sagaranidra, published by DC Books Kottayam in 2017. Anantharam Charulatha, a collection of short stories was published by Lipi Publications.

Sandhya is the recipient of several literary awards for her works. Her short story, Puzha Paranjathu (What the River said) fetched her the first prize in the short story competition held by Puzha.com in 2008. She again received the second prize for her short story, Patikal Kayarunna Penkutti in the Takazhi Cherukatha Puraskaram 2009. Sandhya’s short story, Jeevikkaan Manangal Athyanthaapekshithamaano? (Is divining a prerequisite to live?) bagged the Souhrdham Cultural Society Award 2013and Kamala Surayya (Late Poet, Madhavi Kutty A.K.A. Kamala Das) Special Award in 2014. Sandhya also bagged the MS Surendran Foundation Award 2014 for her short story, Heathcliff and received the KMK Award 2015 and Nanma CV Sreeraman Award in 2016for her short story Ormabank (Memory Bank). Furthermore, Sandhya’s short story collection Patikal Kayarunna Penkutti won the Kerala Kala Peethom Pakkanar Award in 2016. The same year, her collection of poems, Perillavandiyil fetched her the Kerala Kala Preethom Pakkanar Award. She also won the Thamarathoni Award of the Mahakavi P Foundation for her collection of poems, Perillavandiyil. The year 2016 was a milestone in her literary pursuit as the year saw many accolades flowing to her. She also received the Mazhavil Special Jury Puraskaram for her sort story, Ormabank in the same year. This year, her work, Perilla Vandiyil fetched her BCV Award and Avaneebala Award. In addition to these awards, Sandhya also received Chrulli Vasudevan Nambeesan Awardfor her poem, titled: Veendedukkal(Recovery). Last but not the least, her short story, Burj Khalifa received Thakazhi Sahitheeyam Ayappa Kurup Special Jury Award, the latest accolade she has received and also the trigger point for interacting with her to write a feature about this genius.

Sandhya has other areas of interests too. She is an amateur Mohiniyattam choreographer and dancer and performs whenever she gets a little bit of respite from her professional and literary commitments. Sandhya also heads and teaches dance to a women’s group, Ashtapournamiand holds a Guinness World Records Certificate for performing Mohinyattam in which the most number of people participated at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on November 28, 2006. During her schooling days, Sandhya was the school leader and a member of Guides. She graduated in 1984 with first rank securing 99.7% marks, breaking the record.

After completing her PG with a third rank, Sandhya qualified in JRF (CSIR) and she joined for research under the guidance of Prof RN Pillai and she received her PhD in 1992. Subsequently, she worked as Research Associate (CSIR) in the Department of Statistics, CUSAT. In addition to that Sandhya had also pursued a PG Diploma in Higher Education from Indira Gandhi National Open University in 1999. Not content with that, she is also holding a masters degree in Psychology, also from IGNOU. Sandhya is a life member of both the Indian Society for Probability and Statistics (ISPS) and the Kerala Statistical Association (KSA).

She was also been a member of the Board of Studies in Statistics (UG), University of Calicut during 2008-2010 and Vice President of Kerala Statistical Association. Sandhya has been a question paper setter for three universities in Kerala. She has structured the syllabus for subsidiary statistics for B.Sc. (Psychology) in 2000 and 2014 of the University of Calicut. Sandhya was also part of the Committee in drafting the syllabus for B.Sc. Core and Complimentary Statistics for Psychology, Computer Science and Geography under Choice Based Credit and Semester System of the University of Calicut. Sandhya had been the Program Officer, National Service Scheme for two years during 2003-2005. She is the Coordinator of Research Committee and a member of IQAC in college. Also, Sandhya is in charge of Music Club, Debating Club, Dancers Club and Writers Forum. She is the Staff Editor of College Magazine and Editor of Multi Disciplinary Journal titled, Andromeda published from the college. She lives in Poothole with her husband, Dr Satheesh S, who is a Professor of Mathematics at Vidya Academy of Science and Technology and two sons, Aravind and Prahlad.

In a free-wheeling chat with The Indian.News Editor, Jayashankar Menon, Dr. Sandhya E talks about the literary and other aspects of her life. Excerpts:

TIN: Out of all your works, the short story collection, 4D has elicited lot of interest in the Malayalam literary circle. Can you share your experience of authoring this book?

SE: There are nine short stories in the collection of stories, 4D. Many of the stories in this book have fetched awards. When it comes to the experience, many of the stories in this collection I had not experienced it directly. Few stories are being heard in the society. Few of them I have first hand experience.

TIN: Also, yet another short stories collection, Patikal Kadanna Penkutti, which also elicited lot of interest. Can you throw some light on that book?

SE: In that collection of short stories too, incidentally, there are nine stories. The first story in that collection was much talked about. The name of that story is Aankuttikalude Amma (Mother of male children). I have two sons. So, naturally, many thought that story was based on my personal account. The circumstances women of female children and male children are different, when they undergo their lives. That way, there is an element of autobiography in this story. This story deals with two male children, particularly, when they are entering adolescence and how the mother manages to tackle their mood swings is the gist of the story. In this story, how a working mother is able juggle between her profession and maintain harmony in the family in a given day, I have narrated the birds eye view of it in a concise way. In the same book, there is another short story, titled: Puzha Paranja Katha (Story told by a river). In 2008, Puzha.com held a short story competition and this story won the award. This story deals with a lady executive and the issues she faces in her life.

TIN: In addition to being a story writer, you are also known as a poet. Can you speak about your passion towards poetry?

SE: Perilla Vandiyil (In the Nameless Vehicle) is the name of the collection of poems, published by DC Books in October 2015. The collection has 52 poems, which were published earlier. Many of these poems elicited lot of interest, few weren’t. Even then, this collection is one of my favourite work as it is my first poetry collection published in book format. I received Thamarathoni awardfor this collection of poems. So, this book is close to my heart.

TIN: Many of the poems in this collection deals with harsh realities of lives which happens in each household. Your observation is spot on. Can you share the cohesive focus you have in observing these types of situations…

SE: I was born late in the family. When I was a child, two of my elder sisters were grown up and parents too were aged. I hail from a conservative family. I never had anyone to play with, when I was a child. When I was a playful child my immediate sister was studying in Class X. The eldest sister was about to finish her graduation. At home, all were either grown up people or old including my aunts and their children who were living close by. In that sense, I had a lonely childhood. Even in the neighbourhood, I never interacted or played with the kids. I was always submerged in my thought my own lone world. I realised later in my life about the loneliness I had as a child. When I was a kid, I never realised that what I was actually missing. When I was around class III or so, I started reading, books like Narendranathan’s works. It was then I realised that there were other children too who had similar loneliness. Then I took to reading in a much more serious way. When I came to the world of reading it was natural progression to foray into the world of writing as well. Probably in my sub-conscious mind, I might have wanted to tell someone about my loneliness during my childhood and that might as well have triggered the inspiration to write later in my life. Both my sisters were literary students. One sibling was a post graduate in Malayalam and another too was a PG in English. That way, literature was part and parcel of our family. So, there always used to be lot of literary discussion at home and I got exposed to the literary luminaries through these endless discussions. My mother used to tell me lot of bedtime stories. Perhaps because of these combination of factors would have brought me to the literary world. I never had the habit of talking much as I was always either engrossed in my own thought or delving deep into the recesses of the ocean of knowledge.

TIN: Perilla Vandi, the collection of poems were well received, as many of those poems had contemporary relevance and when these poems were published in weeklies, even established and well known writers had lot of appreciation. what is your take on that?

SE: I am glad to share bits of experience from that collection of poems. There was this poem called Nissaram(Simple). That was published in Bhashaposhinimagazine. After this poem got published, two weeks later, I got a registered letter to my college address. When I opened it, I was awestruck and found it difficult to trust my eyes. That letter was from one of the renowned poets, Balachandran Chullikad. The poet wrote that few of the poems had bruised his heart again. He had not mentioned whether he liked my poem or had dislike toward it. Nevertheless, I cannot even express now, how elated I was to see his letter. As far as I am concerned, that was the biggest achievement in my literary life. Many of the budding writers like me, who used hold Chullikkad in high esteem and adore his poems, when I received a letter from him, I was literally in cloud nine. In fact, I was yearing whether he read any of my poems. Just then the poem which was published in Bhashaposhini grabbed his attention and the eventual response from him that made me really happy.Similarly, through the literary path, I was able to connect with many great writers. Poet Rafeeq Ahmed had written a poem with the same name. And with the same poem, we were able to introduce ourselves.

TIN: Many of your poems, romance is the main theme. Can you elaborate on that…

SE: Romance is feeling that is there in every person’s heart. How much ever we write, romance never loses its novelty. If you take the poems, a majority of them would be based on love and romance. We are constantly in search of that eternal love, especially poets’ quest for it is common. In all romantic poems, there will be the reflection of it, the search of romance and the lack of it, the despair of love, the grief, the frustration…all these feelings will manifest in the poem, the laments and the intense feeling. Sometimes, when we tend to think that it is in fact love, will not be exactly the same feeling, rather it is infatuation. When you realise that it was a mere infatuation and not the lofty level of romance, the resultant feeling and the emotional outpouring makes a poem so poignant and touching. Romance is always close to any poet’s heart and it is human.

TIN: Which are the books and authors who have inspired you to pursue writing?

SE: When I started off reading, few child literature like Nandanar’s Unnikuttante Lokam, I even lost count of how many times I would have read that book. Even now I used to read that story to my children during Onam time. Similarly, I used to read almost all the books written by Narendranath. In all these books, there used to be a child character. I used to think that whenever I get an opportunity to write, I would love to write like the above mentioned authors. When I reached my adolescence, like many of us peers, MT Vasudevan Nair’s Manju (Snow) was my favourite book. Similarly, Malayatoor Ramaksrihnan’s Verukal (Roots) was my favourite book too. Importanly, MT’s books were a big draw back then. Likewise, Padmanabhan’s few stories. Madhavikutty, somehow, I could never comprehend then. Later, I got attracted to her works in a maverick way. In the poetry genre, I grew up hearing ONV Kurup’s poems, where my sisters used to recite and make me understand. Sugathakumari is another favourite poet. All these literary luminaries are all time favourite, although I also like many other authors and poets and their literary works.

TIN: You are a teacher and a poet too. How has your creative mind help you to deal with your Statistics students?

SE: A teacher is always involved in some creative pursuit or the other. Teaching involves lot of passion and creativity, devoid of it, we feel quickly bored with that profession. For me, my writings give motivation to be creative in my teaching profession too. My writings or literary pursuits compliment my profession. What I teach is the science of Statistics, which normally the perception is that it is abstract and dry. Even the children will not have great passion to pursue this vocation of study. Even students who join this course come with a preconceived notion that the teachers too will be mundane, devoid of any creativity and the proclivity teach in a creative way. To change that perception is cumbersome process. But when I face my students, they realise that I too am a creative person, who writes poems and stories, who has the same thought process like them and she too is emotional social animal, then the perception changes. The classroom environment changes. They take more interest in their studies. As a writer, I am amiable and approachable. Even children can meet me, discuss their personal issues like romances or some family issues. So, that way, being a writer has helped me to interact with my students in a cordial way.

TIB: You are also a dancer. Talk about your passion towards performing arts?

SE: I am not a professional dancer. Nevertheless, I was always passionate about dance. During my scool days, when children dance on stage, I used see and enjoy the aesthetics of dance. I never got that kind of opportunity to learn dance back then. But, when I went to Thiruvanathapuram to pursue my post graduation and when I started doing research, that was the time, I again got fascinated and started taking it serious. Wherever there was a dance concert in and around the city, I used to attend that event and enjoy it. I can’t be confined at home for too long. Back in Trissur, lot of cultural and other activities happen. In Regional Theatres, lot of dance programmes will be conducted. Since I am attracted to dance, I used to see a variety of performing arts such as Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, Bharathanatyam, Kathakali and more. In Thiruvananthapuram, if I come to know that a dance programme is happening somewhere in the city, I will be tempted to go as I was so passionate about dance. Though I don’t go for learning dance. I had two Gurus, Kalamandalam Shobha and Kalamandalam Husta Banu. I learned Mohiniyattam and hence I am more passionate about that dance form. Now what I do is self-composed choreography in Mohiniyattam. We have a small group consisting of housewives known as Ashtapournami, where I teach Mohiniyattam and Thiruvathirakali. We also perform at the Vadakunnathan Temple in Trissur.

TIN: As I writer, with whom you have indebtedness?

SE: KGS was the first person to make me understand that my writings were good and deserve to be published. He was the first person that I had showed my poems and short stories when I started pursuing seriously about writing and KGS really inspired me and instilled confidence in me that I will succeed as a writer. I was wanting to make him write a foreword for my first book, but, unfortunately, he couldn’t do that as he was held up in Bangalore. After that, for my following books, authors, Vishakhan and Ashtamoorthy wrote foreword. Both these authors really liked my short stories and wrote foreword with immense happiness. For my Perillavandi Attur wrote the foreword. I was a bit apprehensive to approach him and ask him for a foreword, as many told me that he might not be lenient on his comments and often he shred the writer in point to pieces, if the work is not up to the satisfaction of his stature. If we get a compliment from Attur, it would be more than the Nobel prize, Ashtamoorthy told me. So, I did go to Attur with a little bit of anxiety. He not only liked my poems, he had also told many of the senior literary figures that my poems are really excellent. Getting blessing from him is a great thing for me. Then about my friends as lot of them still encourage me. Out of them, one name I should be mentioning now. He is Dr. Chacko, who used to suggest me all major names of the magazines and encouraged me to send my poems and stories. At home front, they do read my poems or stories and appreciate it, but never be opinionated or suggest changes. Other than my friends, my colleagues in the college also encourage me. They not only complement me but would also take my poems and stories to their homes and make their people read and appreciate it.

Santhosh Kumar Kana from Karivellur has bagged this year’s Best Kendriya Vidyalaya Teacher Award in the Ernakulam Region. For the past 16 years, Kana is teaching English to Plus II students. Kana has worked in various states in the country in addition to Nepal. He has also made different short films for the students of Kendriya Vidyalaya. Kana’s Blog, Somathmika, where he writes in Hindi, Malayalam and English languages that has humongous readership. He has acted in the Malayalam movie, Aadu 2.

Currently, Kana is also acting in a forthcoming Malayalam film, Pretham. In addition to that, Kana has also acted in several serials and plays. Kana has also authored a travelogue, Kathmanduand kallavandi, collection of poems and successfully published. Kana is also a wonderful mimicry artist, motivational speaker, writer, singer, wild life photographer all rolled into one.

He is son of Vadakke Manakkatte MV Karunakaran and Soudhamini. Watch this column to read a comprehensive feature on this multifaceted personality soon. The Indian.News congratulates Santhosh Kumar Kana for his achievements.

Widow mother from Kerala, Jasmine Liyakhath perseveres to make her five children doctors

Years ago, after losing her husband, LiyakhathAli Khan, Jasmine from “Nishara” Haripad was clear about one thing in her mind.

Out of their five children, at least one child should be educated and made a doctor. Loads of financial encumbrances, Court Order to attach whatever little property that was there looming large, the family of six were struggling for a square meal.

Jasmine Liyakhath wearing a smile despite all adversity.

Amidst of all these turmoils, the very thought of realising her dream was at a great distance. But destiny had something else in store for Jasmine and her children. When Jasmine’s fourth son, Zulfikherjoined the MBBScourse this year, she is in cloud nine by becoming a mother of five doctors under the same roof.

Her deceased husband was a heart patient. When he had massive heart attack, although Jasmine rushed Liyakhath to the nearby hospital, he got medical attention late for want of a Cardiologist. Subsequently, he passed away, leaving his wife and five children literally on road.

From (L-R): Zulfikher-Jasmine-relative-Jesna- Ziyana-Akbar-Shesna

The bank loan Liyakhath raised for setting up Ice factory of Rs.12 lakh later became a liability of Rs.15 lakh and that was the time he died of heart attack. The court stuck the notice of attachment of the property on the front door Jasmine’s house. The couple’s eldest daughter Ziyana was in Class IX then and her sibling, Jesnawas in Class II. The rest of the kids, Shesna, Zulfiker Ali Khan and Akbar Ali Khan were less than three years. Without a job or income on her own, Jasmine felt that she was fast slipping into quicksands. When her husband was alive, the girl children were sent to Convent school. When Jasmine was not able to pay the fees, the school authorities sent the girls out. Ziyanawas enrolled in the Government Boys School (those days for plus 1 and 2 girls were enrolled). The rest of the four children were admitted in the Orphanagein Perumbilaavu, Trishoor.

From (L-R): Shesna-Jasmine-Jesna-Friend-Ziyana

In 2002 Kerala State Medical Entrance Examination, Ziyana passed with 161st rank and joined MBBS course at Kottayam Medical College. Young Ziyana got her fees and books from various philanthropists. After completing her post graduation in Anaesthesia, Ziyana is currently pursuing DM in Critical Care Medicine in Apollo Hospital Chennai. Jasmine’s second daughter Jesna is pursuing MBBS in Kollam Travancore Medical College, while her third daughter Shesna has completed her BDS in Delhi Dhyanpur Medical College and she is right now doing house surgency there. Jasmine’s son Zulfikher is pursuing MBBS first year in Kollam Azeesia Medical Collegeand her last son, Akbar is pursuing his second year BDS at Srinivasa Medical College, Mangalore. Zulfikher met with an accident when he was studying in Plus I and that is how Akbar overtook his elder brother.

Jasmine with her children.

Jasmine had never went with a begging bowl to feed her children. But to make her children study, she would have sought help from at least 1,000 people. Some people helped her while few others made fun of her for being too ambitious to make her children doctors. There were many people who had given gold ornaments to Jasmine to pledge the same in bank and pay the fees for her children. Few others also gave financial assistance on a returnable basis. There are many people who are helping her and her children. Children’s educational loans, plus other financial encumbrances would total up to Rs.75 lakh. The younger boys did not receive educational loans. As her house was attached by a bank, other financial institutions refused to give loan for Zulfikher and Akbar.

Proud mother Jasmine gets civic reception, Kinder Eminent Women of the Year Award for her laudable achievement of making her five children doctors.

Despite all these turmoils, the entire family is in cloud nine that in few years their struggle would be over and all five siblings will become registered medical practitioners. Those children who had to stop the education half way for want of money and finally take refuge in killing themselves should take a lesson from Jasmine and her five doctor children. Amidst all the trauma and frustration, Jasmine stood behind the children like the proverbial rock of Gibraltar and instilled confidence in them to achieve their goals. These five children, who really came up to the expectation of their mother Jasmine should be lauded. Zulfikhar and Akbar are struggling to pay their term fees..and if something urgently had to be done, failing which these two boys’ dream of becoming doctors will not become a reality. Philanthropists and friends..whatever you can do to help these children will be a great service from your part. Akbar Ali khan, Account number: 67308749680 IFSC Code: SBIN 0070086 SBI Harippad Branch

India is making accreditation process more scientific and tough for colleges

The Union Human Resource Development Ministry is going all out to make accreditationprocess more scientific and tough for colleges. “The Government is committed to increase quality education in the country right from primary education to higher education. In higher education, we have taken tremendous steps to improve college education, for this we are making accreditation process more scientific and tough. Government wants to increase the strength of NBAand NAACso that more number of institutions can be accredited, the Minister added.He further said that government is open for other agencies to take the responsibility of accreditation and IITs and IIMs have been asked for the same so that more and more institutions can be accredited from reputed agencies”, Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Human Resource Developmentsaid in New Delhi on December 14, 2018.

While speaking at national Conference on ‘Positioning India on the Global Education Map’ in New Delhi, Javadekar said, “Ranking and rating increase competitiveness among institutions for better performance. Let me cite you an example. Take National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). Thanks to the introduction of NIRFevery institute has constituted an internal committee to improve the ranking. Students also see institutions ranking before taking admission.”

Good Teachers

Stressing the role of a teacher, Javadekar said, “Teacher is the most important component to increase quality education in the colleges and varsities. Attendance should increase in the classroom apparently due to the teacher’s skills and not due to the infrastructure of the college. We are lacking good teachers in the institutions precisely because of the fact that good people are not becoming teachers. We have to attract good people for teaching profession and we have to give respect to teachers then only we can create a good learning environment in the institutions. Best teachers attract students to the institution not the best infrastructure.”

Graded Autonomy

Stating that the graded autonomy was another major step of his Ministry to boost quality education in the country, Javadekar said, “The universities will remain within the ambit of UGCbut will have the freedom to start new courses, off campus centres, skill development courses, research parks and any other new academic programmes. What is more, they will also have the freedom to hire overseas faculty, enrol international students, offer incentive based emoluments to the faculty, enter into academic collaborations and run open distance learning programmes. We are focusing on research and innovation to boost research culture in the country. The Ministry of HRD successfully conducted two Smart India Hackathon in 2017 and 2018 and started process for third instalment of Smart India Hackathon- 2019.”

The Minister further said that to promote innovation culture in India we have started Innovation Cell in AICTEand more than 1000 colleges started Innovation Club in their campuses. The research and innovation culture will make education more relevant and reliable. In addition these steps to promote quality education in India, we have increased budget amount for the higher education through HEFA. India is improving its ranking in world class institutions but we want to enter in top 100 club of best institutions, therefore we are trying to make 20 Institutes of Eminence in the country, ten each in public and private category”, Javadekar added.

Ambi Subramaniam, son of Legendary violinist, Dr. L. Subramaniam to release “Superheroes without Capes” song this evening

Superheroes without Capes.

Well known Carnatic Classical violinist, Ambi Subramaiam is releasing his latest original song, “Superheroes Without Capes,” under The Thair Sadam Project, an experimental blend of Carnatic and digital music along with his sibling .

“Superheroes Without Capes” features in excess of 500 children as part SaPa in schools, an initiative by the Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts (SaPa)to integrate Indian and global music into the mainstream academic curriculum.

“The teaser of the song is already out and we are launching the song this evening at 7.00 PM,” Ambi told The Indian.News.

The Bangalore based Ambi has been giving concert from a tender age of seven, drawing inspiration from none other than his father and guru rolled into one, Dr. L. Subramaniam, the legend. At the age 19 itself, Ambi had reached the big circuit with his violin performances. With none other than to look for inspiration, the legend, Dr. L. Subramaniam, while accompanying him wherever he performed across the world, young Ambi learned the nuances of violin and mastered it. Thanks too the umpteen duo performance that Ambi had with his father, Dr. L. Subramaniam, the young artist could evolve a style of his own.

Ambi is equally at home with Indian classical violin as well as the western classical genre as well. Ambi secured first rank in the Associated Board Royal School of Music. Besides violin, Ambi also had achieved distinctions in Piano and Western Music Theory Examinations. Ambi has the distinction of being part of a special performance at the Gateway of India back in 2003, featuring violin legends includinng Dr. L. Subramaniam and Jean Luc Ponty. In 1999, Ambi performed at a special open-air millennium concert on New Year’s eve in front of a crowd numbering two lakh.

The Thayir Sadam Project has a new original release coming out next week; and we thought this would be the best way to announce it! Here are the amazingly talented Neha and Navya doing a cup song version of our soon to release original!Mahesh Raghvan Bindu Subramaniam Akshay Anantapadmanabhan

Ambi has also performed at the most renowned Dussehra Fetival at the Mysore Palace, the Yehudi Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, the Lincon Centre Out of Doors Festival, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago, the US; and at the Centenary Celebration of the Bangalore Gayana Samaaj.

What is more, Ambi had also performed with the Orchestra Nationale du Lille, Sinfonia Baltica, Filharmonica du Stadt Sibiu, the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and the Leipzig Philharmonic Orchestra. In the Sounds of India programme, Ambi was a soloist, featuring talented instrumentalists from across India in several venues both in India and overseas stages.

Ambi and his father, Dr. L. Subramaniam brought out a duet album that was released in the UK some time back. The 1991 born Ambi is now dabbling with various fusion music genre, even as he gives Carnatic violin concerts throughout the year, encouraging budding talents to popularise both Indian and Western Classical violin and vocals.

The two-day CSR Leadership Conference 2018, hosted by NASSCOM Foundation began in Bangalore on December 11

India’s largest Technology4Good driven conclave, The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Leadership Conference 2018 began in Bangalore on December 11. In the two-day conference, in excess of 400 delegates including CEOs, CXOs and CSR Heads from the industry, policy makers, influencers, NGO Leads, Tech4Good champions and social innovators have converged under one roof and discussing about innovative approaches to CSR and further help create a road map to a new, developed and inclusive India. Accenture, supporting the event is deliberating on the topic, Skills to Succeed. Society Generale and Wells Fargo are supporting the knowledge platform, along with Sonata Software.

Debjani Ghosh, President, NASSCOM, while speaking at the event had called for collaboration across the industry to solve larger national issues. Rekha Menon, Chairman and Senior Managing Director, Accenture India did speak about how India needs to upskill and re-skill its workforce to remain relevant, while, Arun Seth, Chairman, NASSCOM Foundation, reflected on NASSCOM Foundation’s role in using technology for social good to create an inclusive India.

Ashok Pamidi, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation, said: “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas”, (together with all, development for all) has been one of the cornerstones of the public policy of the Government of India. The conference takes this vision forward by providing a platform for the IT-BPM industry to collaborate and solve India’s most pressing problems. With Industry Revolution 4.0 technologies, we are at the threshold of what could be history in the making. On the one hand, we plan to use CSR funds to skill people on these new technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Blockchain, Robotics, etc. and bridge the skills gap. On the other hand, we plan to use the power of these technologies to address various day-to-day problems and needs of common people while helping improve the social fabric. Therefore, this conference is aiming at exploring opportunities and challenges of these technologies apart from addressing the present implementation needs.”

A report from Accenture on creating a future workforce, 95% workforce believes that it needs new skills to remain relevant. Addressing the critical question on future of work and where does India stand in re-skilling its workforce, the Skills to Succeed partner for the conference, Accenture called for an innovative approach, aided with intelligent technologies, to help people develop future-ready skills. In the ensuing panel discussion, participated by leaders such as Gayathri Vasudevan from LabourNet Services India Pvt. Ltd., Clement Chauvet, UNDP; Anita Rajan, Tata STRIVE; Rituparna Chakraborty, TeamLease Services Ltd., and Gaurav Kapoor, NSDC moderated by Kshitija Krishnaswamy, Accenture further deliberated on how India’s skilling challenge can be transformed into an opportunity.

Importance of STEM

Almost 80% of the jobs created in future will require: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathsskills (STEM). A session focusing on STEM education for children highlighted how CSR initiatives had stepped in to energise the eco-system by building maker-spaces, tinkering labs, collaborating to develop curriculum and expose the students to new technologies at a young age. Collaboration in CSR can help bring impact at scale for some of the most challenging of the social problems we face today, the panel felt. Prakriti Panvar from Wells Fargo took the lead in discussing various collaboration models and highlighted best practices in a cross-sectoral, multi-stakeholder environment.

Polluted Cities

Air pollution in metro cities of India

As per a research finding, 9% out of the ten most polluted cities in the world are in India. Burgeoning air and water pollution, in addition to inadequate waste disposal, rising e-waste, increasing paucity of natural resources are some of the few immediate and imminent environmental threats India is facing today. Societe Generale has been at the forefront of promoting clean and renewable energy and brought its knowledge to the conference where Sowmya Suryanarayanan gave insight on how organisations can embed sustainability within the values and culture.

The first day of the CSR Leadership Conference 2018 also had other interactive panel discussions and impacted talks, Rural Development, Reimagining Healthcare and making development efficient. The day ended with business leaders like Sandhya Vasudevan from the DB Group; Rostow Ravanan from Mindtree and Sarv Saravanan from Dell EMCsharing their perspective on how they balance business goals with social imperatives.

The CSR Leadership Conference 2018 also had a host of networking opportunities and enabled NGOs and Corporate majors to find relevant partners. The event also hosted some of the best social innovation project demonstration.

Today, the second and concluding day of the event will discuss threadbare on subjects such as engaging learning experiences in Employee Volunteerism with a session by MyGov on Self4Society, Mapping CSR to SDGs, Design Thinking for Development and Best Practices for Monitoring and Evaluation.

The CSR Leadership Conference 2018 has grown over the years to become the largest IT-BPM specific CSR conclaves. This year, the CSR Leadership Conference hosted the leadership from across all relevant stakeholder groups involved in the CSR ecosystem – The IT Industry, NGOs, Social Enterprises and Eco-system support agencies. Key participants at this conclave are as follows: IBM, Intel, Teamlease, Labournet, Atal Innovation Mission, NSDC, Tata Strive, Accenture, Akshaypatra, ACC Limited, Cognizant, Vodafone and Deutsche Bank, Dalberg, PwC, Sattva Consulting and Storywallahs.

Furthermore, the NASSCOM FoundationCSR Leadership Conference 2018, therefore, delivered on its promise to provide a 360-degree opportunity for all stakeholders to connect, learn from peers and expert, and strive to solve the most significant challenges facing development and diversity in India.

NASSCOM Foundation is a leading non-profit organisation driving technology for good. The Foundation’s work is just as expansive and evolutionary as the potential that technology and corporate India entail. Drawing strength from its parent body NASSCOM, the Foundation works closely with four major stakeholders: NASSCOM member companies, NGOs, emerging social enterprises and Government to foster a strategic relationship between technology and development. NASSCOM Foundation’s core initiatives include working for Persons with Disabilities, fostering innovative solutions for social good, creating unique skilling models for underserved communities, helping transform Indian Public Libraries into community engagement, information and knowledge centres and digital literacy where it is the industry partner to the Govt. of India’s National Digital Literacy Mission (NDLM / PMGDISHA). Know more at nasscomfoundation.org

Hanan Hamid: The school girl trolled on social media platforms for selling fish wearing uniform starts selling her new brand Viral Fish in her mobile Tata Ace customised van

The Kochi girl Hanan Hamid, who was trolled on social media platform for selling fish in uniformand raising money in public glare. The harassment she had to face was immense, following a report carried by the vernacular daily, Mathrubhumi on July 25 this year, about the school going girl selling fish at the Thammanam Junction in Kochi, juggling between her studies and survival, Hanan was haunted by unscrupulous elements by harassing her, thus forcing her to put an end to the fish sales temporarily.

Video Courtesy: ANI News

Hanan could not start the fish sales, as she was involved in a nasty accident that impacted her spine and she was hospitalised. She, then became a hashtag sensation on the digital space following the trolling. When the young girl was selling fish to self finance to pursue her higher studies and when the report came on the daily, highlighting her plight and good souls to help her out, instead of coming out with support, actually, many unscrupulous elements started hounding her with trolls for wearing uniform and selling fish.

The place where she left off, after facing public ire, Hanan set up her mobile fish stall in a Tata Ace light commercial vehicle at the very same place, this time lot more confident and smiling. As Hanan did not have a property to name on her own, she was denied loan by the bank. Through a common friend, eventually, Hanan managed to avail a loan and the rest is what they call, history! The girl who stood there at the Thammanam Junction and sobbed, at the very same place, when she came with her new van, beaming with confidence, Hanan got rousing reception from the public.

Yesterday, when she arrived at the Thammanam Junction with her new Tata Ace van, it created a buzz in that vicinity as people started pouring in to watch her sell the fish out of sheer curiosity. Rightly so, the young girl had named her venture as Viral Fish. Malayalam film actor Salim Kumar visited her mobile van and inaugurated her new venture by cutting a ribbon which was tied on the rear of the vehicle. A smiling Hanan told ANI in the video below that the moment her selling fish in uniform went viral on social media platforms, Hanan got a fantastic name of Viral Fish.

Hanan Hamid, Facing her future with great confidence and smile.

Hannan told the news agency that Viral Fish is now a talk of the town. Hanan had customised the van and provided reefer unit inside the Tata Ace so that her stock of fish remain fresh. She has clear target through this business. Hanan says all cut fishes are available on her mobile van and she will extend home delivery to all the apartments in that vicinity. What is more, Hanan is also planning to come up with an App to propel her business into another level. With her innovative approach towards facing life with renewed vigour, Hanan has set a glorious example for other girls to emulate. Her new and innovative mobile fish stall is definitely a big push for her towards chasing her dreams into reality. Hanan even fried few fish pieces for Salim Kumar, who took a bite of it and was so excited. The actor, who was very happy to see her positive smile bought fish worth Rs.3,000 before he went home.

Aiswarya S Menon, first year Malayalam MA student from Government Victoria College, Palakkad, Kerala, is the new Chairperson of the Kerala State Vidhyarthi Malayala Vedi, (Student wing of the Malayalam Iykya Vedi), a non-profit forum promoting the Malayalam language.

Aiswarya, better known as Aiswarya Kenath in the social media circles (as she does not approve of revealing her surname to the public, which was thrust on her as per the old social norm), is also the Palakkad District Chairperson of Vidyarthi Malayala Vedi. This brilliant south paw is not really tall, nevertheless, with her brilliance, she has not only scaled more heights, but also made the entire family, friends and the community around her proud. Aishwaya had won several laurels
including the Kerala State Library Council’s District level competition as the voracious reader in Palakkad District.

Multi-talented personality

Aishwarya is a multi-talented personality. At the tender age of nine years, she wrote a short story, which was published by the leading vernacular daily in Kerala, Malayala Manorama, titled: “Koushalakkariyaya Maan”meaning Curious Deer. The shy girl had the habit of scribbling on the notepads (prescription pads) gifted by her late uncle Easwarachandra Menon, who was a Medical Representative. The moment she finished writing a short story or a poem, she had the habit of taking a cursory glance at what she had written, only be thrown into the garbage bin. Noticing few crumbled white papers inside the trash bin, her mother Mini – who is a teacher – was curious and fished out those trashed papers and read the contents in it. Alas! she was shocked and surprised at what she had just seen. It was gems of brilliance, which her mom couldn’t fathom in her wildest of imagination!

Aiswarya S. Menon (Aiswarya Kenath) is the new Chairperson of Kerala State Vidyarthi Malayala Vedi.

Out of the four short stories that were dumped in the trash can, Mini took this and sent it to the Malayalam daily, that was eventually selected and published! Before that, from then on, and from there, Aishwarya never looked back. Right from class V to XII she made the local school proud, (GAPHSS Elapully) for being a topper in class, topper in School, topper in something else, which we will come to, later.

Ambition

Aishwarya wanted to become an Astronomer to start with. At the same time, she was very passionate about linguistics. Besides her mother tongue, Malayalam, she was equally adept in English, Sanskrit and Hindi as well. Now, her ambition got checkmated by her own overriding passion she had with the language. This brilliant wannabe Scientist, who won the Crystallography State Level Quiz Competition, organised by Kerala State Council For Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Kerala, at Kowdiar PalaceThiruvananthapuram on the sidelines of the International Book Festival held in 2014, as the second prize winner and her joy knew no bound, when the Chief Guest, who was
none other than the Former President of India, Late, Shree APJ Abdul Kalaaam, who complimented her and asked her in chaste Tamil, on stage, “Are you the only girl
participant in the entire competition in Kerala, where women outnumber men in terms of absolute population”!

Destiny

Now, let us see how destiny has its own scheme of things. As the saying goes, “Man Proposes, God Disposes”, Aiswarya, with her dream of becoming a Physicist, Astronomer or a Scientist, who topped the school in her 12th Examination by achieving the second highest mark, with distinction, was now left in a quandary. Although, she had 85- 91% marks in Mathematics, Science and Language in that order, nevertheless, her passion for language became a nemesis for her future ambition of becoming another Kalpana Chawla. What decimated her ambition, was her overriding passion. She got centum in Malayalam language, 200 marks out of 200 marks! Period! Wherever she applied for the Under Graduate course opting for Science, Arts, out of which Malayalam Literature was the last priority. But, she was firm on one thing in her mind. Aishwarya
longed to pursue the undergraduate course from Government Victoria College Palakkad, which is a dream of every citizen of this “Dreamy Land of Misty Mountains.”

Why Victoria? Naturally, this question will arise…for that she had ready made answer. Right from her passionate heroes (read Malayalam writers including MT Vasudevan Nair, the all weather writer, the PG Wodehouse of Kerala, VK Naryanankutty A.K.A., VKN; OV Vijayan, Madhavikutty, A.k.A., Kamala Das. A.K.A., Kamala Surayya and an
extended list of other writers as well, out of which MT Vasudevan Nair had pursued his Undergraduate studies in Science in this very same college. Other prominent
personalities who were old students of this prestigious college, named after the then Queen of England by that name – The best part is that the Queen had visited this college, which celebrated the centenary few years back – Metro Man Sridharan, TN Seshan, EMS Namboodiripad and others.

So, when her single point agenda of joining Victoria College, come what may, along with her passionate subject, Malayalam, which she scored full marks chartered a new path for her to tread. Rightly so, she absolved her ambition of becoming a scientist and happily joined the college opting Malayalam Literature. Right from Class V to XII, she had amassed innumerable awards, accolades and certificates.

Now, after joining BA, when she was in the second year, realisation dawned in her that there was no PG course in the college for Malayalam. When she inquired, she got to know that the struggle for this cause started many years back, without finding any tangible results.

Aishwarya swung into action and she embarked on a signature campaign to kick-start the momentum of bringing the MA Malayalam to the college. She, along with her faculty, visited none other than the legend, MT Vasudevan Nair, who was the alumni of this college to collect the first signature at his residence in Kozhikode. Not stopping at that, she visited Kannur and met the PWD Minster, G Sudhakran, during an event related to the language council and handed over a memorandum, urging for the just demand of introducing a PG course in Malayalam in her college. With collective effort the course was introduced in the college. Before joining her PG, Aiswarya proved herself worthy of batting for the introduction of PG course, by
scoring the highest mark in BA Malayalam, in fact, first rank in Calicut University!

Future Plans

Going forward, the left handed girl, with her power centre on her right brain, though Left in her attitude, had left her future plans to unfurl on its own, as she is fully focused on clearing her examination with the same level of verve and enthusiasm, which she started right from her pre primary school days. When probed, Aishwarya did not confide her ambition by keeping her card close to her chest. Contrary to my journalistic inquisitiveness, Aiswarya revealed that after the PG, she would either try for the civil service stream or she will flow with the tide and become an Academic as the natural evolution. Team The Indian.News join our readers to congratulate this female prodigy from Kerala who made us all proud.

RSLP led by Union Minister for HRD Upendra Kushwaha set to move out of NDA Government

Upendra Kushwaha, Photo: Twitter

Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), a partner of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Upendra Kushwaha might as well quit the alliance.

Quoting a senior party leader as saying, PTI reported that the formal announcement is likely to be made today. The leader of RSLP, who did not want to be quoted told the news agency that Kushwaha might as well quit his minister’s post. “It is all just a formality which could be completed once Kushwaha visits Delhi and meets the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the leader told the agency. It may be recalled that RLSP criticised the Narendra Modi Government and Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar only yesterday. What is more, Kushwaha, who has the veto to take suitable political decisions at the two-day brainstorming session of the party (Chintan Shivir) held in Valmiki Nagar in Bihar, which was attended by members of the national and state executives, is scheduled to address a rally at Motihari today, noted the report.

Ram Vilas Paswan

The party leader is again quoted as saying by the report that the party’s rigid position made it clear that “our association with NDA, which means the BJP and Lok Janshakti Party, led by Ram Vilas Passwan is over for all practical purposes. We had no tie-up with Janata Dal (United) led by Nitish Kumar in any case, since the latter had walked into the alliance only last year, while he was part of the coalition since 2014.”

The four-page resolution, the RLSP, without mincing words explicitly expressed concern over many alleged objectionable and unnecessary decisions taken by the BJP and the Union Government in the not too distant past. The resolution further stated that though the RLSP was not against the construction of mosques and temples, nevertheless, this is not the function of political parties and their meddling in such matters cause unwarranted tensions in the society and further diverts the attention of the public from core issues.

Over the increasing noise in favour of the construction of a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya before the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 gives credence to the suspicion that the largest part in the coalition, BJP, which is ruling at the Federal level and few of their leaders are deliberately trying to make people forget about a gamut of issues such as poverty, illiteracy and rising unemployment and get swayed by emotive issues. Therefore, RLSP strongly condemns this attitude, the resolution said in a strongly worded statement.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

Apparently, the strongest jibe so far of the Nitish Kumar Government in Bihar, the RLSP took potshot at the ruling dispensation that Kumar’s silence over corruption issues during his tenure gave rise to the suspicion of his involvement in these scams, the resolution said and further charged the CM with having capitulated before communal forces.

“Collapse of law and order has forced the people of the state to live in fear. The Bihar Government revels in its own gimmicks coming up with fanciful ideas like a five-year agriculture road map while turning a blind eye towards the problems faced by the peasantry. Therefore, RLSP takes the pledge to dislodge this Government from power in Bihar, deeming it necessary to usher in peace and prosperity.”

RLSP’s future course of action was not clear even though the grand alliance constituents Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress and Hindustani Awam Morcha have been trying to reach the RLSP for long. Furthermore, Kushwaha has also been in discussions with former JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav who has formed his own party. Speculation is rife that the two small parties are contemplating on a possible merger, concurred the report.

Finally, a spectre of a split also loomed large on the RLSP with both its MLAs and a lone MLC, besides one of its MPs, were reported to be in touch with Nitish Kumar and keen on remaining in the NDA in the event of Kushwaha getting out of the coalition, added the report.